French sailor loses Vendee Globe place after becoming a mother

French sailor Clarisse Cremer has lost her place in the Vendee Globe after sponsor Banque Populaire dropped her from the team. 

The Vendee Globe is held every four years and is the only solo round-the-world sailing race that is non-stop and without assistance, it also sees women competing against their male counterparts. Cremer holds the all-time female record for the race and having finished the last race would have previously automatically qualified for the next race in 2024-25. 

However, a change in regulations means that Cremer has not been able to sail enough qualification miles due to being out of action with pregnancy and as a result Banque Populaire has decided to replace her as they fear she will not be allowed to compete under the new regulations. 

Cremer said on Instagram “The rules chosen by Vendee Globe forbid a woman to have a child, even if she is a recognised sportswoman, who already finished the previous edition. In the 21st century, who would believe that such rules would be fair?”

Vendee Globe president Alain Leboeuf said Banque Populaire had acted too hastily as he believed there was still enough time for Cremer to complete the required number of miles in order to compete with French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera saying “Everyone knows that Clarisse Cremer, the fastest woman in the history of the Vendee Globe, deserves to be on the starting line in 2024. 

An online petition directed to Banque Populaire calling for Cremer to be allowed to compete has garnered almost 13,000 signatures.